Yokosuka Food Corner - Blue Street and Beyond: Tainan Markets - Taiwan style restaurant 台南市横須賀

Tainan Market 台南市, like so many other places in Yokosuka, is hidden on a tiny alley. Even then, it's set back from the alley another 20 feet with no English signs.

But a menu with English translations sits outside by the alley for you to look through. And one can tell from the pictures it looks like your typical Chinese dishes. If you've already found it, congratulations for being adventurous. Although I've walked past it a few times (same alley as Sumiyoshi and the Autoyakitori machine), I never took that step outside the bounds of the alley to see what it was all about. See the blog map part II for it's location or the location link at the bottom of the post.

View from the alley

Although it looks like "Chinese" food - Tainan Market sells itself as a place for Taiwanese food. Personally I really don't know the difference though I'm sure some of you could fill me in. I do know the food was quickly and expertly prepared by a chef who clearly knows what he is doing, and that it tasted great.

I've been here a few times and will not hesitate to come here again.

Tainan Markets is part of Tori no Su - like a sister restaurant. In fact, we had a party at Tori no Su a while back, and I now realize that the food came from Tainan Market, not Tori no Su.

Tainan is a city in Taiwan where it is said the "night market" originated. If you visit Taiwan, a trip to one or more of the night markets is a must. Well prepared street food (not an oxymoron here) will be available at a cheap price. Pull up your plastic chair and take in the sites and sounds. Hong Kong and many other Asian destinations have similar markets as well.

Perhaps Tainan Markets wants to replicate that atmosphere to an extent with their (not so comfortable) tiny little chairs. They are a step up from the Vietnam street variety (think kids play set) but with no back are not very relaxing.

Tainan Markets gets much above average reviews on Tabelog. If you're at all familiar with Tabelog, anything over a 3.0 is doing really well. Tainan market has a 3.43. Both places (Tainan market and Tori no Su) are excellent food destinations.

You'll be served plenty of food whether you go for the set lunches or dinner plates.

Lastly, as I'm posting this on Thanksgiving Day, I'd like to throw in some thoughts. While my family and I will be enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving meal on base, we are thankful for so many things out in the community. (remaining within the food lines...) We are thankful for the people running Tainan Markets and all the other immigrants who came to Japan and are sharing their culinary talent. Much like the pilgrims they traveled far, likely endured hardships in a strange land, but (I hope it's true for all) continue to endure and are now thriving. The Korean places, the great Indian food, Vietnamese (My Le up past Yokohama), Peruvian (Machu Picchu - posting coming soon), Walter from Nigeria running the Geodana chain, all the wonderful Thai places, and of course we cannot leave out all the Japanese restaurants as well - it's great to have such a variety available and the talent and the collective creative genius of the people behind it all - we are thankful.
I'd like to thank my family too and especially my wife. Although it might seem like we eat out all the time we do not. My wife is an amazing cook who overdoes herself in the kitchen. She never uses a cookbook and can put out great dishes with with ease. I peer into the refrigerator and freezer and wonder "what could I possibly make with this?" While she takes those same ingredients and will turn it into something special. I've added a few photos of some of her dishes at the very bottom of this post.
A thanks goes out to all of you too for reading Yokosuka Food Corner and providing me with positive feedback. I did not know the path would lead me to this point when I first started the blog. More than 70 restaurants later it's good looking back at it all. Your support has kept me going.

Interior

Beef Ninniku - Beef Garlic - last item (left column) on the lunch set menu below

Kung Pao Chicken

Shrimp Ball Soup

Fried Tam Rice

Chalkboard "Recommended" Menu

Lunch Set Menu

Translated

It's not your eyes, it's blurry

Better? Worse? One, or Two? Two or Three?...

Some additional set meals above, but you can see it's more expensive. It includes a draft beer with each plate I believe. This would be a good menu to use the Key Food Kanji and figure a few things out on your own.